Thermos - 2015

Thermos. I. Papapostolou (ASA) reports on the systematic investigation of the sloping area east of the east stoa of the Agora of the sanctuary of Apollo.

Investigation revealed two monumental stone staircases, corresponding to the two exit openings in the back wall of the stoa, about 40 m. apart. Only the lower sections are preserved: 7 steps in the northern (Fig. 1) and 10 in the southern (Fig. 2) staircase, made of limestone slabs of equal height, but unequal length, constructed in careful isodomic style. The northern staircase is 4.80 m. wide, the southern 6.80 m., as are the equivalent openings connecting the stoa with the area to the east. The space between the staircases and the stoa is paved and about 2 m. wide. It is likely, but not certain, that the two staircases led to the same higher terrace on the slope. The southern staircase is connected to the known strong retaining wall of the southeast part of the area, which turns to the east and borders on the south edge of the steps. The monumental construction and the strong retaining wall demonstrate that the staircases led to an area or extensive areas with large, significant buildings. There are indications that the two new staircases were built in the first phase of the Agora, i.e. before the Macedonian invasion of 218 BC.

Two trenches were dug in the temple of Apollo Lyseios, under the threshold of the double entrance to the cella and under the base of a column of the portico. Traces of use of the space prior to the temple were not located; it is probable that the construction of the temple dates to the Hellenistic period after the Macedonian invasion and not, as thought up to now, to the early 6th century BC.